Born in Sevenoaks, England, Anthony J. Smith studied art at the Tonbridge Wells School of Art before being conscripted into R.A.F. Later, he was employed as a technical illustrator for the Hawker Aircraft Company and became a successful graphic artist. After emigrating to Canada in 1964, Tony formed a progressive Industrial/Technical studio with a photographer and two other artists in Toronto. Upon his retirement in 1998, he moved to the Niagara Region. The ambience of the wineries, Niagara Falls, the escarpment, and the Welland Canal, rekindled both his enthusiasm for painting and his interest in detail. His work is exhibited in Niagara Region art shows. He is a member of the Parkway Artists Guild, the Niagara District Art Association and the Pumphouse Visual Art Centre. In 2015, Tony was inducted into the Niagara Falls Arts and Culture Wall of Fame. He welcomes the opportunity to share his artistic vision of the Niagara region with all.
About the workshop
As a boy of 16, Tony worked as a messenger boy in an advertising agency where this method was used. He will give a brief history of why, in the post-war 1950s and 1960s, poor quality newsprint made scraper board the most popular method for commercial advertising. He will show samples of work produced by artists which reflect the tradition of the great line engravers in Victorian times.
In addition to a very exciting workshop, Tony will challenge six interested PAG members to design and create their own work and to bring their work to the April meeting. Tony will provide 5x7 pieces of Scratchboard and a printout of samples seen at this demo so those six interested members can get started right away.
And if that is not enough, one of the lucky workshop attendees will win a framed, original Scraperboard work by Tony himself! You won't want to miss this workshop!
Supplies
Blank samples of scratch board will be available while Tony demonstrates this neglected medium
Please bring a heavy needle set in a chuck pencil holder instead of a lead pencil (photo attached). These can be purchased at an art supply shop or a good stationary store.
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